Ahhh... KD7 Finally!

[WesM63]

Hey guys,
I finally recived my new KD7 today and get er all installed. XP took her good. I'am gonna format C:/ and reinstall in the next few days.

Now if i can figure out this o/c bit i'll be set.. any help here? First abit board i've owned, so not to fimaliar w/it.

I got my *Free* 2200+ in there if you need to know, runnin cooler too.

[lechumbl]

Hi Wes,

I think you should send it to me, and I will set it up for you. :D

Oh, you want it back?
Want what back?

Take care.......

[WesM63]

hey lee,
Thanks for the offer bud, but i think i'll figure it out. :D :D


/ I need the w00ts

[mdzcpa]

Sounds like a nice set up there Wes:D

What you might want to start with is lowering the multiplier, runnin the FSB at 166mhz, and setting the divisor setting to 5:2:1. At that point nothing is really being overclocked except for the cpu bus. You'll see a big imporvement in performance.

If your memory is up to it, set it to:
CAS 2
4 way Interleave
2,5,2

From there, continue upping the FSB which will push your cpu higher. Apply some core and memory voltage along the way.

Beware of setting the DRAM Command to 1T. there is performance to be found there...but stability can be compromised.

Leave the CPU command set to normal...do not go to Fast.

Have fun experimenting M8...you have a very solid and potent combo there:)

[WesM63]

Update!

I did a clean install of xp and was testing to see how high i could get her. I had it at 11x185 everything maxed except 2t timmings. I don't remember voltages, i just remember 3dmark crashed when i tried runnin it. I tried 11x190 and hosed windows. Reinstalled, hosed it at 10x190 v.core 2V, dram 3.06V. stock mem timmings.

Right now i'am re-re-installing XP i'am gonna try 12x180. If i hose it again i'am gonna get pissed.

The only flaw i found is the restarting issue. Restarts fine at stock settings, but when o/c i have to turn off and turn back on.


So far I love my new mobo and cpu, just kinda makes me mad i can't hit 190FSB with stock timmings.


Any other suggestions?

[mdzcpa]

Hey Wes,

Make sure you have flashed the BIOS...it cures a lot of issues. I prefer B8, although C8 is now officially the latest BIOS out. Avoid CS, it has issues.

Issues I found B8 cures is the "no warm reboot over 180mhz" and allows for much higher overclocking.

Also, make sure you have the CPU Command to at "Normal". "Fast" is a sure way to bork the system when overclocking.

[WesM63]

Hey mike,
Yeah i check i still have the original release bios. I'am gonna d/l and flash it to B8 tonight. Hopefully it will help.

It's runnin at 12x180 2.1V core and 3V dram. My temps don't seem right. MBM says its 48C? My H20 hoses are cool to the touch and so it the waterblock. Usually, If it gets around 44,45C the hoses are hot. I don't understand. Maybe i have it on the wrong sensor i don't know. It was the only one that seemed right.

I got some screenies, Post em when I get home.

[mdzcpa]

Wes,

For MBM you need the latest version 5.2.1.0. For the CPU diode temp you need to select the "LM90 Remote" sensor.

Don't forget that running the cpu diode temp may give you a higher temp than you are used to as it is reading directly from the core, rather than being inferred by the BIOS and in socket probe.

Also, don't be alarmed by the high system temps. The KD7 is known for it's high system temp readings. The system probe is near the northbridge close to the mosfets which make the reading report warmer. BTW, the MBM sensor for the system temp is Winbond 2.

Let us know how the new BIOS works. I'm glad to hear you were running the original release BIOS as the new one will likely cure those troubles you're having:)

[WesM63]

Hey mike,
I hav'nt flashed teh bios yet, i have to write a 3-5page report paper. I had some screeines but now my computer is acting up, tryin to tell me my second harddrive needs formatted.

[mdzcpa]

School work comes first :)

Then get that BIOS flashed asap...you'll be much happier:)

[WesM63]

hey mike,

Almost finished, i do have these for you thou. :D

[WesM63]

and

[Farabomb]

Nice Wes.

What's it clocked at?

[WesM63]

Hey fara,
I did forget to include that did'nt I?

Well here ya go :

[mdzcpa]

Good job Wes...everything seems to be coming along nicely:D You've got a nice system cookin' now.

[WesM63]

It was at 2160 (12x180) untill about 9 then it just shut down. So i backed it down to 11x180. Been runnin fine so far.

[mdzcpa]

Did you flash that BIOS?

What temps were you seeing under load at that 2160mhz?

[WesM63]

Not yet mike i finished writing my paper at 12pm. The temp said it was 51C but like i said it was screwie. Working on that bios tonight :D

[WesM63]

!@#$%&^*

I got mad after i got home from the game when i found out I BROKE WINDOWS AGAIN!!!!

So i said forget it today... i don't have anything to do tomarrow and i'am gonna work on it then. Then thurs i have to install a cable modem for my friend.


AAHHHH i'am about to rip my hair out.

[spldart]

Reminds me when I was first dinking with OC'ing my new rig. I kept getting XP all pissed off and have to reset my mobo then reboot half a million times for XP to finally get itself straightened out enough to come up all the way :(

[SleepO]

I know the feeling Wes it took me forever to get my system to run stable.

[WesM63]

Ahh that's better, Flashed bios to C8, re-installing xp... again.

Will let know how it goes.

[WesM63]

Lil update,

Runnin at 11x185 fully stable, 1.9Vcore, 2.85dramV. Hits 13,4K 3dMark.

Raising FSB don't seem to phase it much at relaxed timeings. If I can i'am gonna pick up some xms. Might try 12x185.

[mdzcpa]

Very nice Wes:) Keep working it.

Low 190's are very doable on the KD7 as far as FSB goes. Gotta be careful above the mid 190s where HD corruption can occur. But I'm guessing that anything under 195 should be safe:)

[Farabomb]

Does the corruption happen with the IDE only or does it affect the RAID channel too?

I'm thinking of geting a KD7-R but I like the 200fsb I get with my KX7-333R. I may have to wait for the Rev2 Nforce Abit board.

[mdzcpa]

I got it on both IDE and the RAID contoller. It is definitely a real bummer for those wishing to go 200+ FSB for big benches. But I guess you have to just weigh that out when considerng the mobo. The upside features of the KD7 are very nice too (cpu diode temps, USB 2.0, access to all mutlipliers on Tbred B CPU without having to unlock, great voltage choices, onboard sound and LAN, etc).

It's a tough call really. For an everyday main rig, I think the KD7 makes a great platform. It may not be the FSB champ, but it does do quite well and can run some tight mem timings to boot.

But If I already had a KX7, I'd likely wait. Unless you find those additional features worth the price of course. Those voltage choices are handy:) But performance wise, there is no gain mhz to mhz.

BTW, the A7N8X I had swapped out 2 weeks ago to make room for a KD7-E had to go to RMA. It suffered from the fatal "BIOS Freeze of Death" sydrome which has been plaguing this ASUS NF2 board (a good number of reports of this now). But, NewEgg is shipping a replacement ASAP. Not sure if I'll give the replacement A7N8X another go, or keep this kick ass "old school" KD7-E and have my buddy take the ASUS. Either way...I'll post more about the experiences we have with it. The NF2 is one fast mutha of a chipset. It's just a little twitchy at high fsb speeds. I'm hoping a later rev board may help. You never know.

[Farabomb]

I'd take twitchy @ 190-200 if it's quick. I like the Nforce but if you're RMAing it that soon I'm a little hesitant to get one. I think I'm going to try and wait for the KT400A. I hope it breaks before the end on Jan. Otherwise I may give the Nforce a shot.

[mdzcpa]

Fara:

It's a tough choice for sure.

The Asus NF2 was solid up to about 194...over that things got dicey after long periods and would throw an occassional error. And then there is that wierd BIOS freeze up death issue. When overclocked, the BIOS "save and exit" routine gets goofy and saves garbage to the BIOS and freezes. No amount of clearing the CMOS will help. The mobo is dead and needs a new BIOS chip. Here a long thread at AMDMB about the issue (http://www.amdforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=177516) . Not sure if this is an Asus or NF2 issue. I think it's an Asus issue myself.

On the other hand is this KD7-E I have. It is much more stable at high FSB speeds. It will do 200+ all day long...in fact 24/7 at 202 right now:). However, it needs those 200mhz speeds to compare with the NF2 at 194mhz.

Like I said...tough call.

Wes...sorry about the hijack. Keep us posted on your progress:)

[WesM63]

No problem m8, good discussion :)